Kentucky court weighs new evidence in 'satanic' killing case

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky's highest court is considering whether new DNA evidence is enough to order a new trial for two men convicted of killing a woman as part of a satanic ritual 25 years ago.

Author:
Associated Press , WHAS

Published:
2:52 PM EDT June 8, 2017

Updated:
2:52 PM EDT June 8, 2017

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky's highest court is considering whether new DNA evidence is enough to order a new trial for two men convicted of killing a woman as part of a satanic ritual 25 years ago.

Kentucky's Supreme Court justices heard arguments Thursday in the case of Jeffrey Dewayne Clark and Garr Keith Hardin. Both men were convicted for the 1992 murder of Rhonda Sue Warford. A judge has since released them from prison and ordered a new trial.

At the time, prosecutors relied partly on a hair found on Warford's pants they said was similar to Hardin's hair. The science they used has since been discredited, and a new DNA analysis shows the hair is not from Hardin.

Assistant Attorney General Perry Ryan downplayed the hair's significance, saying prosecutors relied more on other evidence.

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